Co-founder of online drug industry scales back after counterfeit allegations

Here's another RxNorth article, quoting the owner Andrew Strempler. It's difficult to say from the article how involved he will be in the new arrangement. It has been my understanding that he hasn't been too involved in day-to-day operations in Minnedosa for some time.

It appears that the pharmacy staff in Minnedosa will be let go. I have not seen any mention of the Barbados operation run by RxNorth, but I would expect that it will be closed up as well.

From CBC News:
A Manitoba co-founder of the multimillion-dollar online pharmacy industry is scaling back his business after allegations that his websites sold counterfeit drugs.

RxNorth.com, owned by Andrew Strempler, has contracted its dispensing operation to CanadaDrugs.com, the largest player in the industry.

"This decision was made in the interest of continuity of patient care, medication supply and to maintain the same high standards of customer service and safety that RxNorth.com has always provided," the company said in new release Wednesday. ...more

Internet pharmacy moves part of operation out of Minnedosa

It was bound to happen eventually. One of the first and largest Canadian online pharmacies is transferring its operations to a competitor. The fact that it's RxNorth shouldn't be a big shock. After the FDA warnings in the summer, the company was looking at a difficult road to recovery, especially in a trying online pharmacy market.

From CBC News:
Minnedosa, Man.-based internet pharmacy RxNorth.com is shutting down its distribution operation there and moving it to a Winnipeg company, due to American concerns over drug safety.

RxNorth.com, which is operated by Mediplan Global Health Inc., will transfer its operation to another company, CanadaDrugs.com, which is based in Winnipeg. ...more

U.S. TV ad campaign backs purchase of Canadian drugs

The American midterm elections will be happening soon. I don't expect importation of pharmaceuticals from Canada to be remotely as important as it is was in the 2004 elections. However, I'm sure some politicians will try to get some attention by bringing up the topic. The AARP has decided to run a series of TV ads in the districts of "importation friendly" Senators.

From the Globe and Mail:
An advocacy group for the elderly is launching a $500,000 (U.S.) ad campaign Sunday in 14 states pushing for Senate action on legislation that would let consumers buy U.S.-made prescription drugs from Canada and other countries.

The ads will appear in newspapers and on radio David Certner, legislative policy director for the advocacy group, said the campaign focuses on the home states of senators who have shown some openness to letting people buy U.S.-made medicine shipped abroad.

Drug used to treat Type 2 diabetes also seems to prevent it in high risk cases

I wonder if the results of this study will result in high risk patients starting Avandia. I seem to remember a similar study regarding metformin, but I don't think it ever gained any traction.

From CBC News:
A drug used to treat Type 2 diabetes appears to prevent onset of the disease in some people who at high risk of developing it, authors of a large international study reported Friday.

The Canadian-led trial found people who took the drug rosiglitazone (sold as Avandia) and who were given advice about lowering their risk through diet and exercise were substantially less likely to develop diabetes in the three years of followup than people who received lifestyle advice and took a placebo. ...more

Pharmacist had 'friend'

The fake Norvasc in Hamilton trial is adjorned for a month or so, but here is a rather interesting article about the testimony of one of the drugstore's pharmacy assistants. She claims she found nothing unusual about the directive to not order Norvasc from traditional sources, even after the tablets looked different. I'm not sure if she came off as loyal to her employer or simply oblivious, but I can't imagine she looked that great on the stand.

From the Hamilton Spectator:
When RCMP entered the King West Pharmacy in June 2005 looking for counterfeit drugs, their attention was caught by a note on the wall where the fast-selling medications were kept.

The handwritten poster said: "Don't order any Norvasc. Ask Abs."

Pharmacist Abadir Nasr, who bought the Hamilton business in August 2004, had told staff not to order the cardiovascular medication from their regular wholesaler because he had a friend who would be supplying the store. ...more

Governor Blagojevich to expand prescription drug plan

Some harsh words for the I-Save-Rx program...

From WLS-TV (Ill.):
The Illinois auditor general says importing prescription drugs from Canada is not only illegal -- it doesn't help many seniors. But Governor Rod Blagojevich announced plans Tuesday to expand the state's prescription drug program.

The governor launched the program nearly two years ago to help Illinois seniors cut the cost of their medications. But Illinois Auditor General William Holland says the program not only violates federal law -- it's a failure. ...more

Naperville woman's medicine cut off

From the Joliet (Ill.) Herald News:
Grace Wojtowicz of Naperville has fallen into the doughnut hole and it isn't sweet.

Last February, Wojtowicz, 71, signed up for Medicare Part D, joining the 22.5 million Medicare beneficiaries who now obtain their prescription drugs under the program. At first, her $49 premiums under Part D were less than what she had been paying to order her drugs from Minitdrug, a Canadian pharmacy based in Calgary. ...more

2nd heist rattles pharmacist

Another crime story relating to Canadian pharmacy. This one involves a pharmacist as a crime victim instead of being the perpetrator.

From the Ottawa Sun:
A pharmacist who's been robbed at gunpoint twice in the past month says police need to step up patrols to protect small retailers from armed robbers.

"We need more protection. There are certain pockets of the city that need more surveillance and more patrolling," said the owner of the Montreal Rd. Pharmacy.

"If the police know that there is a pharmacy that's been hit a couple of times, they should have a constant surveillance, whether it be undercover or whatever, to keep a watchful eye on us," said the pharmacist who didn't want his name published out of fear for his safety. ...more

Sight blurred after dizziness

I get the impression that updates from the courtroom are going to be a reasonably regular feature at Canada Pharmacy News over the next while. This post has two links: the first one was published yesterday and can be seen here.

I don't see much new in either report compared to the first one. More patients testified about problems associated with taking fake Norvasc. I find it reprehensible that the pharmacist dismissed their claims. Maybe he (misguidedly) thought that he could make more money by using cheap foreign Norvasc but once the problems started to reveal themselves, he should've put a stop to the whole thing and tried to make things right.

From the Hamilton Spectator:
John Dindial awoke the morning of April 24 last year feeling extremely dizzy, then his sight went blurry and the room began to go black.

The 69-year-old Hamilton man was visiting a friend in Scarborough who took him to the Rouge Valley Centenary Hospital. The patient, who had diabetes and high blood pressure, had been controlling his hypertension for about 12 years with a cardiovascular drug known as Norvasc.
...more

Problems with the blog

There have been some technical difficulties with the blog. Hopefully they are fixed shortly.

New pharmacy 16 years in works

I love hearing a success story like this. After many years of hard work, an couple opens an independent pharmacy. I really hope they can make the business work.

From the London (Ont.) Free Press:
Andrew and Bonnie Gurgul realized one dream 16 years ago when they came to Canada and a second dream five months ago when Andrew opened an independent pharmacy.

For the Gurguls, it hasn't always been easy. The Polish immigrants first left their native land for Germany in the late 1980s, when communism was falling and tough living conditions got tougher. ...more

Rx for excellence

Here's an article about the new pharmacy school at the University of Toronto. It seems to be a definite improvement over the old facilities. There's no shortage of corporate names attached to it, but I suppose that's the way things are these days. The "hanging classrooms" and bookless library sound pretty cool.

From the Toronto Star:
Suddenly this fall, pharmacy student Jason Lam feels like he's on Star Trek.

To enter his weekly fall seminar about the drug industry, the fourth-year student must cross a catwalk into a sleek silver classroom that hangs like a spaceship in mid-air over the student lounge.

It's one of two egg-shaped lecture "pods" suspended in the glassy five-storey atrium in the University of Toronto's dramatic new pharmacy digs at the corner of College St. and University Ave. As undergraduates arrived this week for their first classes in the new $75 million building, the airy design by British architect Norman Foster won top marks from many. ...more

Pharmacist's trial told of numb face

The trial of the Hamilton pharmacist who allegedly was selling fake Norvasc started this week. The article below provides some compelling information. It sounds like an inquistive patient and pharmacist got the investigation rolling. This whole episode is a black mark on the profession, but thankfully is not representative of pharmacy in general.

From the Hamilton Spectator:
Beryl Preston was flying home to Canada from a winter holiday in Cuba when one side of her face went suddenly numb.

The retired Dofasco employee, who was taking six different medications for high blood pressure and other ailments, got the attention of a flight attendant, explaining the numbness was spreading across her face toward one eye....more

Pharmacists' touch brings patients relief

Here's an article discussing compounding pharmacists in Toronto. It's worth a read...

From the Toronto Star:
Pharmacist Richard Stein has a special way of getting personal with his patients.

Not only does he have intimate knowledge of which medicinal ingredients they can or can't tolerate, he often even knows what flavours they prefer.

He is a compounding pharmacist, which means he customizes doctor-prescribed medicines for patients with special, individualized needs — people and animals....more

Rae pledges catastrophic drug plan if elected federal Liberal leader

It was bound to come up at some point...proposing a national pharmacare program has been brought up by a Liberal leadership candidate. This article suggests that Bob Rae is more interested in developing a plan that can only be accessed under catastrophic circumstances as opposed to a universal plan that all Canadians would be obligated to be part of. However, the article then quotes him talking about replacing existing provincial plans so I'm really not sure what he wants.

I don't know the mechanisms of some of the other provincial drug plans, but I don't think a federal plan would be any better than what is already here in Alberta for example where there are mechanisms that generally prevent huge out of pocket expenses for drugs. Provinical programs completely cover transplant medications and antiretrovirals for HIV patients, and any Alberta citizen with a provincial health card can apply (and cannot be refused) to get a plan similar to what all seniors over 65 get autotmatically. The deductible for this coverage is based on income and even at the full rate it is quite affordable.

Also, isn't health care a provincial responsibility? The feds handle drug coverage for refugees, First Nations peoples, and veterans but these are exceptions.

From the Canadian Press:
Canada needs a national catastrophic drug program to help patients who face bankruptcy when their health demands that they pay for a costly, life-saving drug, federal Liberal leadership hopeful Bob Rae said Thursday.

The so-called Maple Leaf Drug Plan comprises the centrepiece of a six-point health-care campaign platform Rae unveiled Thursday as part of his effort to succeed Paul Martin as leader of the federal Liberal party. ...more

'Expert pharmacists' get go-ahead in UK

It's not really Canadian pharmacy news, but I thought there are some interesting parallels between the expansion of pharmacists' roles in Britain and in Alberta.

From BBC News:
Patients will soon be able to consult "expert pharmacists" under plans revealed by the government.
They will be able to offer advice and support for people with conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and sexually transmitted infections.

The first specialists are set to be in place across England from next summer, the government said. ...more

Delayed availability of Influenza Vaccine for the 2006-07 Season - Statement - Public Health Agency of Canada

I have not heard any of the major media sources (newspapers, television news) report this information yet. I think that's a bit unusual as this can be played up as a huge story even though it's probably not that big a deal. When they eventually notice, I'm sure we will see the usual inferences to a potential pandemic, which always seems to catch attention.

From Health Canada:
Flu vaccine manufacturers have reported problems growing one of the strains recommended for this season’s flu shot. As a result, the vaccine should be available to the provinces and territories at the end of October or beginning of November.

This is about a month later than usual in some jurisdictions and means that the timeframe for the delivery of public programs will be compressed. People, however, should be able to receive the vaccine before the peak of the flu season, which typically does not occur until mid-December or later. ...more

Antiretroviral drugs keep HIV-positive triathlete on track for world event

Here's a good little article talking about how antiretroviral therapy can change patients' lives.

From the Halifax Chronicle Herald:
As a triathlete with HIV, Scott Simpson says the reason he can race in the world triathlon championship Saturday is because he’s part of the lucky minority to be on antiretroviral drugs.

The 40-year-old from Toronto will race in the men’s 40-44 age group at the world championships in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Canada’s elite triathletes, led by Olympic gold medallist Simon Whitfield, will race Sunday in the 1.5-kilometre swim, 40-kilometre bike and 10-kilometre run. ...more

CIPA responds

Here is the press release put out by the Canadian International Pharmacy Association responding to the claims that MediPlan has shipped counterfeit products. I don't think it says anything too different from what would be expected.

I have put links to two other articles regarding the ongoing story. The CTV News article does a pretty good recap.

From CTV News:
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration rattled Canada's online pharmacists Wednesday with a report that found fake versions of Lipitor and other widely used prescription drugs were sold by websites linked to a co-founder of the industry.

But the past president of Canada's largest industry lobby group is urging people not to jump to conclusions until key questions are answered about the drugs and whether they truly are counterfeit. ...more

From USA Today:
One of Canada's largest Internet pharmacies — the one credited as the birthplace of the cross-border drug industry — is selling counterfeit drugs to U.S. consumers, the FDA said Wednesday.

The Food and Drug Administration warned consumers that sub-par versions of Lipitor, Crestor, Celebrex and seven other drugs shipped by Mediplan Prescription Plus Pharmacy were seized en route to Americans during the past few weeks. ...more

OPINION: The world is not an ice cream cone

In the effort to expand this blog's range of content, I'm attaching a link to an opinion from commonground.ca which I thought was interesting. From time to time when I see something of note, I will pass it on and let you judge for yourself. I'll attempt to give different viewpoints if possible. My main criteria will be

1) Is there a logical thought process to the commentary?
2) Does the commentary inspire thought and/or discussion?

Regarding this article, I think it raises some good points. Drug companies in Canada have to market to consumers in a much more indirect fashion than we see in the U.S.A. Sometimes I think we would be better off with the direct (yet sometimes squirm-inducing) ads as opposed to the Canadian nudge-nudge wink-wink approach.

FYI, television ads for prescription medications in Canada may contain the name of the product but not discuss what it treats OR it can discuss the illness being treated but not mention the name of the drug. That's why the Canadian Viagra ads are, in my opinion, not in the public's better interest compared to the U.S. ones that have to list warnings and side effects.

FDA stands by warning against Canadian web pharmacy

There is no shortage of articles about the FDA allegations that MediPlan is shipping counterfeit drugs. Their statements don't provide any definitive evidence and considering their past comments regarding Canadian pharmacies, I'd like to see more information. However, the FDA warnings in the past have tended to be more vague and has never been this specific naming a specific location.

MediPlan's president doesn't help his public relations cause when he refuses to mention the location of his non-Canadian pharmacy. He said in the Globe and Mail article below, "I hesitate to put that information out there, because it's another way they target us," when it is public knowledge that the pharmacy ships out of the Bahamas. It's even mentioned in this CTV report.

I wonder if there is any connection between the FDA warning and the release of a poll that says 80% of Americans would be okay with the importation of medications from Canada and other countries.

From the Globe and Mail:
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration blindsided Canada's on-line pharmacists Wednesday with a report that found fake versions of Lipitor and other widely used prescription drugs were sold by websites linked to a co-founder of the industry.

But the past president of Canada's largest industry lobby group is urging people not to jump to conclusions until key questions are answered about the drugs and whether they truly are counterfeit. ...more

From CBC News:
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Thursday it stands by its warning to Americans not to buy drugs from a Manitoba-based internet pharmacy, claiming the drugs are counterfeit.

The FDA issued a news release on Wednesday warning against ordering 10 specific prescription drugs from 10 websites, including rxnorth.com, canadiandrugstore.com and canadian-safe.com. ...more

FDA Warns Consumers About Mediplan

I am quite sure we will be hearing a lot more about this soon. I'll have more info posted later today.

From the Food and Drug Administration:
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is advising consumers not to purchase prescription drugs from websites that have orders filled by Mediplan Prescription Plus Pharmacy or Mediplan Global Health in Manitoba, Canada following reports of counterfeit versions of prescription drug products being sold by these companies to U.S. consumers. FDA is investigating these reports and is coordinating with international law enforcement authorities on this matter. ...more

Health Canada cuts off sick man’s pot supply

I'm not certain if having medical marijuana available through a local pharmacy would help this patient or not, but it seems to me that it would be a lot more practical for pharmacies to distribute the product as opposed to a federal agency.

From the Halifax Chronicle Herald:
Tom McMullen ran out of the medication that gave him his life back about two weeks ago, and he can’t get more.

The Prospect Bay man is an authorized medical marijuana user and buys his drugs directly from Health Canada.

But the bill for the 90 grams he’s allowed each month is 80 per cent of his monthly Canada Pension, his only source of income. ...more

Mass. city ends drug plan that defied US

The Springfield, Mass. Canadian pharmacy plan is dead. This well-publicized and controversial plan was the brainchild of former mayor Michael Albano. Albano started the program in 2003 and both he and the plan were often the focus of the cross border pharmacy debate.

I suppose this could be viewed as another sign of the decline of the Canadian internet pharmacy industry. I'm sure somewhere a drug company executive is smiling...

From the Boston Globe:
The Massachusetts city that stood up to federal regulators and inspired a national movement to import less expensive prescription drugs from Canada is calling it quits.

Three years after Springfield became the first city in the United States to buy drugs from Canada for about 1,500 municipal employees and retirees, the city has decided to stop offering its own health insurance coverage, including the Canadian drug importation plan. ...more

Customs seizes Canadian meds

It's time for a bit of an internet pharmacy update. There isn't anything in this article we haven't seen before, but here it is anyway.

From the Mankato (Minn.) Free Press:
Maurice Hardie isn’t a criminal.

He lives a quiet, retired life in Madison Lake, with his wife, Dorit, taking care of a lush back yard. Doing a little grilling. Visiting with friends.

So when he got an ominous letter from Homeland Security and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, he was surprised and a little worried. ...more

U.S. allows some nonprescription sales of morning-after pill

It looks like the FDA was able to push Plan B to OTC status after a long road despite political objections. However, it's not as simple as it ordinarily would be. Plan B will be kept behind the pharmacy counter and only those over 18 can purchase it without a Rx. Youths will still require a prescription.

Beyond the obvious political and moral debate, this is pretty interesting from a pharmacy point of view. While Canadian pharmacies have established "no public access" areas that contain items like Gravol, Tylenol #1's and other items that a pharamcist must give out, such a category has not existed in the States. A drug there is either Rx or can be sold anywhere, even gas stations, etc. This ruling essentially creates a "no public access" category in the States. Will pharmacy regulators take advantage of this new category and attempt to add other items, or will the opportunity be missed?

From the Canadian Press:
Women in the United States can buy the morning-after pill without a prescription, the government declared Thursday, a major step that nevertheless failed to quell a politically charged debate over access to emergency contraception.

The manufacturer, lawmakers and other advocates said they will press the U.S. government to allow minors to purchase the pills over the counter. ...more

Oral rotavirus vaccine okayed for infants

There have been a few new product announcements over the last while. One that I don't have a link for yet is for rasagaline, which is a new med to treat Parkinson's. Meanwhile, here's a note about a new vaccine. It seems that some vaccines have been making news. It's nice to see new products coming out that aren't "me too" drugs. After all, do we really need another statin or ARB?

From the Toronto Star:
An oral vaccine that protects babies against a nasty bug that causes fever, vomiting and diarrhea — and sends thousands of kids to hospital each year — will be available this fall in Canada.

Merck Frosst Canada Ltd. announced last week that Health Canada has approved its vaccine RotaTeq, which protects against rotavirus gastroenteritis. Distribution to doctors and pharmacists is expected to begin next month. ...more

Canada's pioneering law to get cheap AIDS drugs to poor nations falls on face

Since the big HIV/AIDS conference is in Toronto, there may be a lot of related posts this week. It's probably an area that a lot of pharmacists are not too familiar with since in most provinces the antiretrovirals are dispensed through special clinics and programs.

From the Ottawa Citizen:
For Ibrahim Umoru, it was a stark but simple decision: He sold his car and his small apartment so he could buy HIV/AIDS drugs.

"I wanted to live," said the Nigerian father of two.

Then, in 2004, he was able to get drugs and related health care at no cost through a Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) project in Lagos....more

Many HIV Canadians not following drug plan: study

From CTV News:
Canadians infected with HIV are less likely to follow instructions when taking anti-HIV medications than those in sub-Saharan Africa, a new Canadian-led study suggests.

In an analysis of almost 60 studies on medication compliance during the past decade, researchers found that just 55 per cent of North Americans HIV patients followed their anti-retroviral medication (ART) regimens to the letter, compared with 77 per cent of their counterparts in sub-Saharan Africa. ...more

The link to the JAMA abstract is here.

How to wipe out AIDS in 45 years

This is a fascinating theory which questions current methods used to prevent the spread of HIV. Can the widespread use of antivirals work better than behavior changes? It would cost a fortune but it's an interesting idea.

From Macleans:
Dr. Julio Montaner, the Argentinian-born director of the internationally acclaimed B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS and president-elect of the International AIDS Society, doesn't exactly think small. On Aug. 4, The Lancet published a paper in which Montaner and his colleagues outline a theory to eradicate the global spread of HIV within 4 1/2 decades. And it has nothing to do with condoms, abstinence or free needle exchanges. ...more

Drug insurers dispense warning

Dispensing fees are making the news again. It's disheartening but not unexpected that the fee is not judged on value of service received, just on the dollar figure. I love the line in there from CUPE stating to use mail order pharmacy but not at the expense of closing down local pharmacies. Nice try to cover all the bases, but I don't see how what they suggest is possible. Any Rx filled via mail order would potentially hurt a local pharmacy or am I missing something?

From the Halifax Chronicle Herald:
Drug-dispensing fees are one of the latest targets in the battle to reduce health insurance costs.

Some insurance providers are now advising employers to alert staff to the widely varying fees charged by drugstores to fill prescriptions.

For example, in 2005, Nova Scotia pharmacies charged between $4.42 and $11.74 to fill a prescription, a Manulife Financial survey found. The fees also varied within chains such as Shoppers Drug Mart and Sobeys. ...more

Pharmacists Rap New Version of Decongestants

I've never heard this before. Pseudoephedrine, despite it's potential for diversion, is a quality decongestant. If the article is accurate the new phenylephrine versions may be rather useless.

From CBC News:
Starting in late September, Sudafed and similar cold medications will only be available from behind pharmacy counters because their active ingredient can be used to make the street drug methamphetamine.

So, consumers may be tempted to try a new type of drug that will be easier to buy. But two pharmaceutical researchers contend there's a big problem with the new nasal decongestants: They don't work. ...more

Pharmacies chafe at changes to First Nations drug plan

Perhaps the government has pushed the pharmacies up north too far. Apparently one Yukon pharmacy is ready to give up on filling NIHB Rx as the formula has made these scripts not worth it. I wonder if more will follow suit.

Ordinarily this type of boycott would not work as most communities have more than one pharmacy. However, up north the next pharmacy can be too far away to access. It'll be interesting to see how it plays out.

From CBC News:
A dispute between pharmacists and Health Canada may force some First Nations people in the North to pay up-front for their prescription medications.

At least one pharmacy in the Yukon has warned First Nations members in their region that they will have to pay for their medications as of Sept. 1.

Northern pharmacies and Health Canada are at loggerheads over changes to prescription drug service for aboriginal people. ...more

It's been a while

Greetings to everyone out there. I've been wrapped up in various summer activities, but look for some more regular posts here as of August.

Time to get started....

US Senate votes to end seizures of Canadian drugs

I think it's rather unlikely that this will ever pass through all the levels of the American government, but the Senate did approve a bill allowing Americans to buy prescription drugs from Canada. It might simply be a move by some politicians to win points with the electorate in the American mid-term elections. Regardless, I don't think prescription drugs will be the hot button topic it was in the 2004 campaign.

From the Washington Post:
U.S. customs and border security agents would be banned from seizing prescription drugs that Americans import from Canada under a measure passed by the Senate on Tuesday.

The Senate voted 68-32 in favor of the provision, with supporters saying the federal government should stay out of the way of Americans seeking cheaper medicines in Canada for personal use. Many Americans import prescription drugs from abroad even though the practice is illegal. ...more

It looks like the Canadian government is greeting the news with a yawn. There are some Liberals that are talking about it, but their focus seems to be more about trying to pin a conflict of interest charge on the health minister as opposed to the issue itself. Cross border pharmacy has largely dropped off the radar for the Canadian public. Remember the days when it was a staple of the nightly news and in the newspaper regularly? That seems like a long time ago.

From the Globe and Mail:
The federal government is unconcerned about a move by the U.S. Senate to end a ban on the import of cheap Canadian pharmaceuticals, but a former Liberal health minister says the proposal threatens the drug supply in this country.

And another Liberal suggests the reluctance of Health Minister Tony Clement to act on the file may be linked to the fact that his former communications aide is now head of the organization that represents on-line pharmacists who sell much of their product to Americans. ...more

Canadians may soon be able to drink their nicotine

Watch out Nicorete and Nicoderm -- here comes a new nicotine replacement in a bottle of water. I can't figure this one out. The nicotine drink will not be treated as a natural product? Didn't the government stop sales of that pharmacist-invented nicotine stick a couple of years ago claiming it was a drug? Also, I was under the impression that the caffeine-laced water sold in the States was not allowed in Canada.

From Canada.com:
...NIC Lite water contains about two cigarettes worth of nicotine and is being sold as a dietary supplement in the U.S. even though the Food and Drug Administration recently said it's an unapproved drug and its claim to be a supplement violates the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. ...more

Important Safety Information: Intracranial Hemorrhage in Patients Receiving Aptivus® (tipranavir) Capsules

From Health Canada:
...As of June 7, 2006, Boehringer Ingelheim (BI) has received 14 reports of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), including 8 fatalities, in 6840 HIV-1 infected patients receiving APTIVUS in clinical trials...

for the Public
for Health Professionals

Canadian sale hits record low

With the dollar being what as high as it is and the new Medicare plan, I guess this is no surprise.

From the Duluth (Minn.) News Tribune:
Sales of low-price prescription drugs from Canada, purchased through a state-sponsored program, plunged to their lowest level last month, Minnesota officials reported Wednesday.

The program of phone and Internet links to Canadian pharmacies was started two years ago by Gov. Tim Pawlenty as the first in the nation. Sales fell to $30,417 last month -- down about 30 percent from May and a shadow of the $153,000 during its best month in January 2005. ...more

Drug firms' research spending falls short

Here's an article that's a bit old, but it's interesting. I didn't realize that there are specific amounts that the brand name drug companies are supposed to spend on research in Canada. They seem to be having trouble reaching it over the last five years.

If the drug companies met this pledge, they would have a good statement to make in negotiations with governments when it comes to changes to formularies and patent laws (like the recent Ontario drug bill). They could say that they have held up their end of the negotiated bargain. Instead, I think they've left themselves open to criticism that is hard to deflect.

At least the stats are improving, up from 8.5% in 2004 to 8.8% last year.

From the Ottawa Citizen:
While seeing rising sales, Canada's big drug companies again failed to hit their promised target for spending on research and development of new medicines last year.

Brand-name drugmakers spent $1.2 billion or 8.7 per cent of their sales on research and development, marking the fifth consecutive year that the industry has failed to meet the 10-per-cent-of-sales ratio pledged when patent rules were strengthened in 1987. ...more

Native woman appeals demands to change drugs

From CBC News:
An aboriginal woman living in Winnipeg is appealing a demand that she switch medications for a health problem, saying the federal government's efforts to cut drug costs for First Nations people have gone too far.

Doreen Demas, 50, is blind and has diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis. She takes medications that require an extra drug, a proton pump inhibitor, to protect her stomach. ...more

Pinning hopes on `wonder drug'

Here's another story regarding a really expensive new drug which treats a relatively uncommon but serious ailment. These stories are in the papers more and more these days. The issue here isn't so much about government approval as opposed to coverage of the drug. It's hard to draw the line of what is covered and what isn't, and sometimes it isn't fair. But isn't that essentially what the Canadian health care system is about? We have one dominant payer in the government which holds all the cards in these cases. The government decides what type of surgery, diagnostic test, or drug is covered and we essentially have to live with it. Or else we need to change the system.

From the Toronto Star:
...The Toronto resident is pinning all her hopes on a wonder drug called Avastin, which was approved by Health Canada in September 2005 for patients with metastatic colon cancer. The problem is the Ontario Drug Benefit program, which pays for drugs for seniors, those on disability and the poor, doesn't cover the steep cost of the medication, which is close to $40,000 for a round of treatment. For cancer patients who want to get the drug when they're in hospital, Ontario doesn't provide or cover it.

This month she began yet another round of chemotherapy as well as Avastin, which is delivered intravenously at a private health clinic in Toronto. Family and friends are raising money to pay the hefty bill. ...more

Viagra helps performance in more ways than one

Here's an interesting article about another potential use for Viagra. Pharamcologically, I understand what they are saying and see how it could work. And it's a sure headline grabber for any cagey newspaper editor.

From the Ottawa Citizen:
U.S. scientists, looking for a way to help soldiers perform in Afghanistan's mountains, have found a miracle pill that safely helps the heart and lungs work at high altitudes - Viagra.

In tests on cyclists in the thin air of high altitudes, it helped may men ride taller in the saddle, though it didn't boost the performance of everyone. ...more

Army wants medical recruits

We knew there was a shortage of pharmacists in the civilian world. Now it's spread to the military:

From the Toronto Star:
The Canadian Forces are hunting for nearly 300 medical personnel to serve at home, overseas and to staff the coalition hospital in Kandahar, Afghanistan, and they're hoping lucrative signing bonuses will help bring in some new recruits.



"We are short 50 per cent of the pharmacists we need. The role of pharmacists is not just what you see happening in Shoppers Drug Mart. They manage our equipment. They co-ordinate all our supplies in and out of theatre. They handle some of our other medications and vaccinations we use to protect our soldiers that you might not use in the civilian environment."

US women may be part of reason sales of Plan B spiked in Canada

It seems rather unlikely to me, but a newspaper article suggests that American women are buying a lot of Plan B from Canadian online pharmacies.

From the Boston Globe:
Since Canadian regulators waived prescriptions for Plan B last year, sales of the emergency contraceptive have nearly doubled, and some of the additional customers are probably American women. ...more

Canadian researchers cure Huntington's disease in genetically altered mice

Maybe this is not directly pharmacy related, but I thought it was a pretty cool medical story so I thought I'd post it here:

From CBC News:
Canadian researchers have unlocked the molecular secret that eliminates the symptoms of Huntington's disease in mice, a landmark discovery that is offering new hope for preventing the devastating effects of the inherited disorder in humans.

A team of scientists from the University of British Columbia have discovered that by preventing the cutting, or "cleavage," of a protein responsible for Huntington's in genetically altered mice, the symptoms of the disease do not develop and the animals exhibit normal brain function. ...more

Dispute blocks cancer drug

From the Globe and Mail:
One of the world's most costly cancer drugs will not be marketed in Canada because the distributor can't charge the price it wants -- one a federal board has found to be too high.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada has taken the unusual move of not launching the colorectal cancer drug Erbitux after it could not agree on a price with the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board. The drug was approved by Health Canada nine months ago. ...more

Minister must go: Liberals

From the Ottawa Sun:
The Liberals are calling for Health Minister Tony Clement's resignation after revelations he hired a campaign aide on a department contract immediately after he was appointed to cabinet. ...more

So does anyone out there know when Gord Haugh was hired by CIPA? Was it before, during, or after his federal contract?

Pharmacist 'scripts safe, group says

It looks like the turf war between pharmacists and physicians could heat up over the next few months. Today the RxA fired a response back to the physician groups in a press release.

“RxA is gravely concerned about how the AMA and CPSA have called into question the professionalism of Alberta pharmacists in comments made to their members and in the media, and the impact that may have on the public trust of pharmacists. The public has every reason to trust that their health and safety will be respected and protected by Alberta pharmacists,” said RxA CEO Barry Cavanaugh.

It's interesting to note that physicians have tried the scattershot approach to attack pharmacist prescribing. First there is mention of competency, then the talk turns to questioning a pharmacist's commercial interests, then the comments about liability concerns. It seems to me that they are throwing a lot against the wall and trying to see what sticks.

Why is it assumed by some that pharmacists are going to prescribe for their personal gain and that it's a conflict of interest? I have never heard anyone question veterinarians about this before. Vets have been prescribing and dispensing most of their own items for years.

I think physicians are raising some points that need to be considered, but I wish they would give pharmacists a bit more credit.

More from the
Calgary Sun

New regulations let pharmicists prescribe drugs

After years of lobbying, pharmacists in Alberta have been granted the ability of prescribe medications. The press release by the Alberta College of Pharmacists is located >here.

Health Minister Iris Evans stated, "Expanding the scope of practice for pharmacists is an example of the innovation possible in the health system to enable competently trained health professionals to use all of their education
and expertise to benefit Albertans."

Individuals with chronic or recurring conditions will be the primary beneficiaries of the new authority, in particular the authority for pharmacists to prescribe. For example, when an individual with asthma runs out of their medication and is unable to see their physician, the pharmacist will be able to provide an inhaler for use until the patient's appointment with their doctor.

It sounds like positive news, but the next question is how will these changes be implemented? What kind of courses will be required? I would suspect that a separate type of "prescribing pharmacist" license will also be required. It sounds like the College will have a lot of details to announce over the next few months.

Here's a link to the Edmonton Journal article regarding the legal changes...New regulations let pharmicists prescribe drugs

Triaminic Vapour Patch warning

From Health Canada:
Health Canada is warning consumers not to use Triaminic Vapour Patch due to the serious adverse health effects that could result if the product is accidentally ingested by children.

Triaminic Vapour Patch contains camphor, eucalyptus oil and menthol. The reported side-effects from swallowing products containing camphor or eucalyptus oils vary from minor symptoms such as burning sensation in the mouth, headache, nausea and vomiting to more severe and life-threatening reactions such as seizures. ...more

Pharmacy rebate program on hot seat

Update: apparently the $25 markup cap has been taken off the table. There is a comment in this article that suggests the government may move their position a bit.

Health Minister George Smitherman offered a reprieve to worried pharmacists by announcing plans to scrap a proposed $25 cap on markups put on special, expensive medications such as HIV drugs — a move that will save pharmacies $13 million.

And he hinted that the controversial rebate ban could use some further definition.

“This continues to be, frankly, a very, very murky area of the Ontario drug system,” he said prior to the start of the hearing.

But he stressed the province’s bottom line was to rein in soaring costs of the drug program, estimated to eat up 10 per cent of overall provincial health-care spending, and get the best possible pricing for medicine.

It looks like the pressure being put on the government is having an effect.

More in this Toronto Star article here

Pharmacy battles for life in Ontario

There is a lot of news regarding the new legislation in Ontario. This article in the London Free Press talks about the beginning of hearings that will give stakeholders such as pharmacists, drug companies, and patients a chance to give their opinions.

There is no word if pharmacy owners will be asked to the table. Their advocacy group, called the Coalition of Ontario Pharmacy has repeatedly asked for a voice. They have even sent a couple of letters to the minister responsible with no response.

Canadian online pharmacies rebound from sales slump caused by U.S. plan

From the Brandon Sun:
As President George W. Bush mounted a final push this week to sign seniors up for a new prescription drug benefit, Canadian online pharmacies said business is already rebounding from an early hit caused by the U.S. plan.

Americans who've enrolled since January are starting to realize there are a lot of gaps and shortfalls in the Medicare benefit, with some drugs not covered at all, industry experts said. ...more

Vioxx's risk high in first two weeks, study finds

From the Globe and Mail:
The blockbuster drug Vioxx was pulled from the market in the fall of 2004 after research showed that the painkiller doubled the risk of heart attack and stroke and that its use may have contributed to thousands of deaths in North America.

Now, a new Canadian study shows that the risk was even more dramatic because one in four of the heart attacks that occurred were within two weeks of the start of treatment. ...more

Druggists fear new bill's rebate ban

From the London Free Press:
Neighbourhood drugstores may have been handed a lethal prescription from the Ontario government, say those who work in the business.

The province is proposing a law that would prohibit pharmacies from receiving rebate payments from generic drug companies -- something that would hit independent pharmacies the hardest.

"It will have a huge influence on the very existence of pharmacies in Ontario," said Hesham Abdelsayed, president of Ontario Medical Group, which operates three pharmacies in London and one in the region. ...more

Smitherman tells drug companies to pipe down

From the Toronto Star:
Canada’s brand-name pharmaceutical companies should “tone down their rhetoric” and work with the Liberal government to help save Ontario’s taxpayers millions of dollars in drug costs, Health Minister George Smitherman said Friday.

Smitherman was reacting to Paul Lucas, the CEO of GlaxoSmithKline, who warned Thursday that the province’s cost-saving plan will do to Ontario’s research-based drug companies what the Diefenbaker government’s cancellation of the Avro Arrow jet fighter did to the aerospace industry. ...more

Smitherman tells drug companies to pipe down

From the Toronto Star:
Canada’s brand-name pharmaceutical companies should “tone down their rhetoric” and work with the Liberal government to help save Ontario’s taxpayers millions of dollars in drug costs, Health Minister George Smitherman said Friday.

Smitherman was reacting to Paul Lucas, the CEO of GlaxoSmithKline, who warned Thursday that the province’s cost-saving plan will do to Ontario’s research-based drug companies what the Diefenbaker government’s cancellation of the Avro Arrow jet fighter did to the aerospace industry. ...more

Local pharmacist awarded millions in case against CVS

Here's an interesting article where an independent pharmacist wins a lawsuit against pharmacy giant CVS.

Jackson pharmacist Randy Guy was awarded $5.5 million in a suit against Rhode Island based drugstore chain, CVS for breach of contract and fraud. ...more

Memories fill pharmacist

From the Regina Leader Post:
After 37 years in business, Bob Moffitt has done more than dispense pills and sell household items to customers at his north-central Regina pharmacy.

He's shared valuable advice, watched children grow up, swapped family stories, built friendships, provided a helping hand and -- in one of the unpleasant moments -- faced a man with a sawed-off shotgun during a robbery. ...more

Back from extended break

I apologize for the lengthy delay in posting articles. My schedule should permit regular updates once again. -- J

Antibiotic may help ease asthma attack due to anti-inflammatory effect: study

From the Canadian Press:
Patients given a certain antibiotic for acute asthma attacks had reduced symptoms and a hastened recovery, providing a potential new avenue of treatment for the increasingly common affliction, researchers say.

In an intriguing study published Thursday in the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers report that patients treated with the antibiotic telithromycin not only had twice the improvement in symptoms than asthmatics given a placebo, but they also recovered much sooner. ...more

The pharmacist has your ecstasy ready

From the Toronto Star:
A Toronto weekend reveller pops into a local drugstore to pick up some ecstasy. He's followed by an addict who's there to buy a single-dose, non-reusable syringe for her fix.

Both transactions are administered by a pharmacist trained to offer advice on the safest way to use the substances.

Nearby, at a "natural herbal products" outlet, pot smokers are lined up for some grown-in-Ontario weed.

The sales are all legal, controlled, regulated and taxed — with profits divided among suppliers, distributors and sellers once a sizeable chunk of cash has been diverted to government coffers for enforcement, management and treatment of drug dependency, and for other social programs.

A far-fetched scenario? ...more

U.S. Medicare plan a blow to Cdn online pharmacies

From the National Post:
With just one month left for American patients to enrol in a new federal drug plan, Canada's online pharmacy industry is trying to assess just how big a hit they've taken -- and how soon they might recover.

While there have been some layoffs and losses since the U.S. program, called Medicare Part D, was rolled out in January, industry insiders say they hope to weather the storm because of the many gaps in the U.S. plan. ...more

Ontario drug-system overhaul targets cost

From the Globe and Mail:
A sweeping overhaul of Ontario's drug system would see pharmaceutical companies banned from paying secret rebates to pharmacists, patients getting faster access to breakthrough drugs and more brand-name products being replaced with cheaper generic versions.

The provincial government introduced legislation yesterday aimed at ensuring consumers have access to drugs at reasonable prices while curbing rising costs that it says threaten the province's entire public health-care system. ...more

Drug equals tamoxifen in preventing breast cancer, fewer side-effects: study

From the Canadian Press:
An osteoporosis drug has been found to reduce the incidence of invasive breast cancer in high-risk, post-menopausal women as effectively as the current gold-standard drug tamoxifen - but with far fewer serious side-effects, researchers say.

In a head-to-head study sponsored by the U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI), both raloxifene and tamoxifen were found to reduce the risk of invasive breast cancer by almost 50 per cent compared with a placebo. ...more

Ontario children with diabetes to get help with funding for insulin pumps

From the Canadian Press:
Ontario will become the first province in Canada to fund insulin pumps for children with diabetes as part of a $1.9-billion increase in health-care spending included in Thursday's provincial budget.

The pledge will provide some 6,500 children diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes with the best possible chance to lead a normal lifestyle, said Finance Minister Dwight Duncan, who called it the one item in the budget of which he's proudest. ...more

Dangerous drugs stolen from pharmacy

From the Brandon Sun:
Police fear a big dose of of dangerous drugs — including potentially deadly ‘hillbilly heroin’ — is on city streets following a brazen break-in at a Brandon pharmacy.

With surgical precision, thieves cut into a lock and defeated the Clinic Pharmacy’s alarm system during an overnight raid discovered Tuesday morning. ...more

School of Pharmacy starting to take shape

The University of Waterloo's new School of Pharmacy officially had its groundbreaking today. The new school will accept 120 students in the fall of 2007. ...more

Newer antidepressants linked to serious lung disorder in newborns

From Health Canada:
Health Canada is advising women who are taking antidepressants known as Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors (SSRI) and who are pregnant or intend to become pregnant to discuss the situation with their doctor due to potential risks to the baby. ...more

Drug residue tainting water, report warns

From the Globe and Mail:
Residues from drugs and cosmetics are widespread contaminants in Canadian waterways, and should be subject to increased oversight by regulators because they represent a possible health hazard, says a report that is being released today.

The report, by the Canadian Institute for Environmental Law and Policy, said tests of the past decade in the United States and Europe have found water to be laced with residues from cosmetics and 100 drugs, and while studies in Canada have not been as extensive, the situation is unlikely to be much different because of the high use of these products. ...more

Some patients will probably die if MS drug allowed: FDA official

From the Brandon Sun:
Dozens of multiple sclerosis patients asked federal health advisers Tuesday to let them decide whether to take Tysabri, a promising drug that was pulled from the market after it was linked to a rare, often-fatal brain infection.

‘‘I am at the end of my road, in terms of what I can take. I want it to be my choice,’’ said Barbara Crooks, 48, who travelled with her husband, David, from the Pittsburgh area to testify before a U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory committee. ...more

State renews Canada drug pact

From the Badger Herald (Wisconsin):
As part of Wisconsin’s prescription drug program with Canada, Gov. Jim Doyle extended medication importation agreements with three Canadian pharmacies last Friday.

“Hopefully, drug prices will fall, but until then, the renewal of the agreement provides seniors with another option to obtain low-cost prescription drugs,” said Gail Sumi, director of the National Association of Retired Persons Associate State Advocacy. ...more

Seized Drugs Being Released

From the Los Angeles Times:
Amid mounting criticism of their crackdown on mail-order medications, customs officials have begun releasing hundreds of seized packages to consumers, Canadian pharmacies and U.S. lawmakers said Tuesday.

It was unclear whether the action signaled an end to the crackdown, which started in November when U.S. Customs and Border Protection quietly increased seizures of prescription drugs mailed from abroad.

After repeatedly denying that they had changed policies, customs officials this week acknowledged that the agency had stepped up enforcement of a federal law banning personal importation of pharmaceuticals. ...more

Nevada's Canadian drug import plan moves ahead

From the Las Vegas Sun:
A divided state panel moved ahead Wednesday with plans to let Nevadans get low-cost prescription drugs from Canada, voting 4-3 for new rules that will be up for final approval April 20.

The state Board of Pharmacy action at a workshop was taken despite an earlier warning from state Attorney General George Chanos that the import program could have dire legal consequences because it puts the state at odds with the federal Food and Drug Administration. ...more

Fewer seniors turning to Canada for prescriptions - Boston.com

From the Boston Globe:
Retired furniture store owner Don Brock quit buying prescription drugs from Canada this year, now that he's signed up for the new federal Medicare drug benefit.

The next time he needs a refill on Lipitor, his daily anti-cholesterol drug, Brock will go to a pharmacy near his home in Litchfield. The 74-year-old says he was saving about $300 annually buying Canadian; now, he figures he'll save about $500 buying through Medicare. ...more

Canada drug-pricing questioned

The latest report from the Vancouver-based Fraser Institute has suggested no less than the total dismantling of the price control system in place on Canadian pharmaceuticals, all in the name of protecting the drug supply from American cross-border shoppers. The Institute suggests that a "temporary" price increase would put internet pharmacies out of business then drug companies would happily go back to previous regulations.

Is it me, or is this simply crazy? In an era of rising health care costs, drugs are one of the fastest growing areas of spending. Canadian pricing controls keep these costs somewhat in check. Meanwhile, Americans pay the highest drug prices in the world. I'd like to see the Fraser Institute convince provincial health ministers that having to double their expenditures on drugs for a couple of years to ensure that Canada doesn't run out of supply. This is like saying we need to double the price of milk for a couple of years because we're worried about the milk supply running out. It's the weirdest economic theory I can think of.

And maybe it's just me, but I think if price controls are removed, the drug companies would be quite reluctant to go back to the old system. After a couple of years of increased profits, it would be hard to convince them to turn back the clock. This would be a dream scenario for drug companies, and a nightmare for provincial governments, medical insurance companies, and individual customers and it would all be in the name of stopping internet pharmacy.

The report fails to mention that the Bush administation along with the FDA are totally against imporation and would never allow the mass imporation that the Fraser folks say would clean out the Canadian supply. So the whole argument is a moot point as I see it.

More on the story in the Calgary Sun article below....

Canada must abandon regulated drug-pricing to stop Americans from draining brand-name prescription medicines through bulk buys from Internet pharmacies, says a report released Wednesday.

The Fraser Institute says such a move could see Canadians temporarily paying more for some drugs, but it would be worth it to prevent widespread shortages. There's no evidence to suggest brand-name drug makers would take advantage of "flexible pricing" and permanently boost the cost of drugs, said report author Brett Skinner. ...more

Province not paying for pricey cancer drug

Here's an interesting story of how procedure can get in the way of the treatment. It seems that an effective drug is not covered by Alberta's provincial coverage plan because it never got a NOC from Health Canada.

From the Edmonton Journal:
As Alberta prepares new legislation to become a leader in the war against cancer, some colon cancer patients are being forced to pick up big bills -- with tabs running as high as five figures -- for chemotherapy.

Alberta is one of three provinces that doesn't fund the drug oxaliplatin, considered an effective therapy for advanced colorectal cancer, because of a patent problem that never saw the drug go through a federal review process. ...more

Maybe it's just me, but can't they make exceptions for products that are approved Canadian drugs with documented therapeutic benefits? These exceptional items should be subject to some kind of appeal process.

Diabetics wanted for program to improve their quality of life

Perhaps someone out there can help this pharmacist with his program...

From the Hope (BC) Standard:
The Hope branch of the Canadian Diabetes Association and it’s president, pharmacist Mike McLoughlin, embarked last November on an ambitious project to improve the quality of life of diabetics. They are continuing to enroll patients.

The project was inspired by research done at the University of Alberta at Edmonton, which showed that “intensive” involvement of pharmacists with their patients showed substantial improvement over “typical” attention from pharmacists. Further inspiration came from the Steno Diabetes Center in Denmark. The average improvement from the extra treatment resulted in an average improvement of a 20-53% decrease in cardiovascular risk. ...more

Health Canada Endorsed Important Safety Information on Octreotide Acetate Omega

From Health Canada:
Omega Laboratories, Ltd has initiated a Class I recall of Octreotide Acetate Omega 500 μg/mL. Some vials of Octreotide Acetate Omega 500 μg/mL Lot 5J970 might contain FLUPHENAZINE 100 mg/mL as a result of a labelling error during the manufacturing process.

Fluphenazine is an antipsychotic medication used to treat schizophrenia and psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, and hostility. Fluphenazine is intended to be administered intramuscularly or subcutaneoulsy and should not be administered intravenously as is intended for Octreotide Acetate. ...more

Health Canada Endorsed Important Safety Information on Octreotide Acetate Omega

From Health Canada:
Omega Laboratories, Ltd has initiated a Class I recall of Octreotide Acetate Omega 500 μg/mL. Some vials of Octreotide Acetate Omega 500 μg/mL Lot 5J970 might contain FLUPHENAZINE 100 mg/mL as a result of a labelling error during the manufacturing process.

Fluphenazine is an antipsychotic medication used to treat schizophrenia and psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, and hostility. Fluphenazine is intended to be administered intramuscularly or subcutaneoulsy and should not be administered intravenously as is intended for Octreotide Acetate. ...more

Important Safety Information on BD Logic, BD Latitude and The Link Blood Glucose Monitors

From Health Canada:
...more

Sobeys unhappy with new guidelines

From the Halifax Chronicle Herald:
A major grocery store chain isn’t happy with the province’s move Monday to limit the amount of space pharmacies can use to sell food as part of new regulations on Sunday shopping.

Justice Minister Michael Baker announced that drugstores can’t dedicate more than 2,000 square feet of their retail space for food, nor can they have a retail sales area larger than 20,000 square feet.

But a spokesman for Sobeys says the new regulations don’t go far enough. ...more

Taking cold medicine off shelves a commercial move, grocers say

From the London Free Press:
Canada's independent grocers say a national pharmacy body's move to ban cold and allergy medicine from grocery shelves is meant to remove a competitor, not prevent the production of the street drug methamphetamine.

"We believe this decision's being made by a pharmacy body to benefit pharmacies," said Gary Sands, vice president of the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers.

The National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities, or NAPRA, has recommended almost all cough, cold and allergy medicines be removed from grocery store shelves to fight the production of the illegal drug. ...more

While I am not convinced that removing all pseudoephredrine-containing products from public access areas really makes a big difference in curbing the meth problem, I find it rather unlikely that NAPRA is using this as a cover to squeeze grocery stores out of the picture.

House OKs bill urging importation of medicine

From the Louisville (KY) Courier Journal:
Eleanor Johnson, 79, says she would like to have the chance to buy cheaper medications imported from other countries.

The Kentucky House passed a bill yesterday that could pave the way for that to happen.

House Bill 163, which would require the governor and state health officials to ask the federal government to allow the importation of drugs "from licensed foreign pharmacies, distributors and wholesalers by licensed pharmacies, distributors, and wholesalers," was approved 58 to 35 after a lively 45-minute debate. ...more

Made-to-order medications: Thinking outside the bottle

From the Canadian Jewish News:
Pharmacist Murray Shore is enthusiastic about compounding medications – a growing and sometimes controversial field that creates custom-made drugs to meet individuals’ needs.

For Shore, who owns the Toronto Compounding Shoppe, compounding is a creative endeavour. He works with physicians to solve medication problems – distasteful flavours, ingredient allergies, infants’ tiny doses, nausea drugs that can’t be taken orally – with custom formulations created for individual patients.

“Many pharmacists don’t think out of the box,” Shore says. Compounding calls for “peripheral thinking,” using known drugs precisely to solve unique problems. ...more

CanWest challenging restrictions on drug ads

From the Globe and Mail:
CanWest Global Communications Corp. has launched a court challenge against federal restrictions on drug company advertising in Canada, saying the rules violate its charter rights.

In an application filed in the Ontario Superior Court, CanWest says it wants the laws governing drug advertisements overturned because they threaten freedom of expression in Canada and are unjustifiable "in a free and democratic society."

The court action, launched by the company's MediaWorks division, comes amid a lobbying effort by Canada's broadcasting, newspaper and magazine industries, which have been trying for several years to have the rules changed. ...more

Currently, drugs are advertised mentioning their name only, and don't get into its uses or potential risks. It has caused ad execs to become a bit more creative than in the U.S., but the ads leave a lot open to (mis)interpretation.

My personal pet peeve are the commercials for birth control pills that seem to be advertising attitude more than anything else. Maybe it's time to revisit and update these rules.

Online drug crackdown

Here are a couple more articles talking about the woes of the internet pharmacy biz:

From the Winnipeg Sun:
A recent initiative by U.S. Customs to step up seizures of cheaper Canadian prescription drugs is making for uneasy times on both sides of the border.

Neither the $1-billion online drug industry nor the millions of U.S. patients who depend on the timely delivery of their medications say they can afford any kind of sustained U.S. government crackdown.

The lobby group representing most of the biggest players in the Internet pharmacy industry said yesterday that it first started noticing an increase in calls from panicky patients last December. ...more

From the Brandon Sun:
A double whammy has hit Manitoba’s estimated $1-billion Internet pharmacy business, with thousands of American online buyers forsaking Canadian drugs to purchase their medicine south of the border.

Following increased Medicare prescription drug coverage for some American seniors as well as more cross-border crackdowns by U.S. border officials on drug shipments, the president of the Canadian International Pharmacy Association said business for Canadian companies has crashed an estimated 10 to 30 per cent since December. ..more

Minnesota prescription drug program falling far short of goal

From Minnesota Public Radio:
Minnesotans are importing fewer prescription drugs from Canada because of the new Medicare benefit that offers cheaper drugs. Both the state and the senior advocacy group the Minnesota Senior Federation give Minnesotans the chance to buy drugs from Canadian pharmacies at lower prices than in the United States. The two groups say the new Medicare drug benefit is mostly responsible for the dropoff, but the U.S. Customs Service also seized more drugs. ...more

FDA: Discount Drugs Aren't Always From Canada

From WCCO-TV (Minn.):
A recent inspection by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration found some of the drugs Minnesotans order from Canada may not be from the country at all.

Each month, thousands of people save money buying prescription drugs from Canadian pharmacies. The state government even sponsors a Web site to help people save money on medicine by ordering it from Canada.

Buying prescription drugs from abroad is illegal. For years, federal officials allowed people such as Wallace Greenfield to import medication for his own use. ...more

Prescription for trouble

From the Toronto Star:
A 31-year-old Toronto woman visited 17 different doctors in the span of a year and was prescribed 13,959 narcotic pills dispensed to her at nine different pharmacies throughout Ontario.

She might never have been caught had the "scrips" not been fraudulently billed to the Ontario Drug Benefit Plan, police allege. She's in court next week facing 223 counts of double doctoring, contrary to the Controlled Drug and Substances Act, and Criminal Code charges of fraud and uttering a forged document. ...more

Increased seizures by U.S. Customs

The Los Angeles Times and other news sources have reported an increase in seizures of packages from Canadian pharmacies.

The U.S. government apparently is stepping up seizures of cheap drugs ordered by Americans — mainly seniors — from abroad, Canadian pharmacies say.

The pharmacies, which sell drugs by mail and over the Internet, say their shipments are being intercepted by U.S. Customs officials around the country where foreign mail is handled.

"It's huge — we've had over 800 seizures in January," up from 15 in a typical month, said Barney Britton, president of Calgary-based MinitDrugs.

Other pharmacies reported four- to five-fold increases. An informal survey of 30 Canadian pharmacies that cater to American customers, conducted by a senior-citizen advocacy website, showed that the rise began in November, doubled in December and doubled again in January....more

U.S. Customs has always stopped a small percentage of packages but this is different than before. Some people think there is no coincidence that this crackdown is occuring at the same time as new Medicare program is being implemented in the States.

From the Palm Beach Post:
"It's a disgrace that our government is trying to coerce us into the program," said Muriel Zuckerman of Florida ...more

I'm inclined to agree that this is no coincidence. The Canadian pharmacies have lost business due to increased drug costs, the less favorable exchange rate, and the new Medicare program. This could be the straw that breaks the camel's back for some of the pharmacies. Plus, increased seizures will make American consumers think twice about ordering from Canada if for no other reason than convienience. Sounds like a good stategy for an American administration that wants the Canadian pharmacies to go away.

Health Canada going after medical pot users for almost $170,000 in bad debts

From the Canadian Press:
Like any dope dealer, Health Canada has its share of marijuana customers who just don't pay their bills.

But unlike street pushers, the department avoids tire irons and switchblades to recover its bad debts in favour of stern letters and collection agencies.

As of last month, 127 people authorized to buy government-certified marijuana for various medical problems were officially in arrears, with bills unpaid for more than 90 days. ...more

Does anyone know the method that the pot is distributed to these patients? It seems to me that it would be a lot easier for the patients if it was dispensed through designated pharmacies.

Online pharmacists hope to make fresh start with new Tory government

From the Canadian Press:
After spending more than a year in fear of a Liberal crackdown on their industry, online pharmacists are welcoming the incoming federal Conservative government as a chance to make a fresh start.

But there is also caution that the party that has supported the cross-border trade from the Opposition benches may now be swayed by brand-name drug makers and other opponents who see it as a threat to the Canadian drug supply. ...more

I think the new Tory government is going to have a lot of other things on their plate before they deal with internet pharmacy. It seems clear that Harper has his priority items that he will deal with first. The only thing that may bring the issue to the table would be if an opposition party wants something done in exchange for support on another bill. While I think the opposition parties are generally against internet pharmacy, I don't see them making it a top priority either.

Flu drug shortage has wide-ranging impact

From the Globe and Mail:
Doctors, nurses and other emergency workers are unlikely to receive preventive doses of a drug that is predicted to be the best defence against infection during an influenza pandemic because the existing stock will be needed to treat the seriously ill.

This is the reality, officials say, despite the fact that Canada's pandemic influenza plan states that antiviral drugs, in particularly oseltamivir (marketed as Tamiflu), could be used as a "prophylactic" to prevent or reduce the severity of the disease among people essential to keeping society functioning. These include firefighters, police, elected officials, funeral directors, utility workers and even truck drivers who transport food and medicine. ...more

Plan B in Manitoba

Here are a couple of articles from the Winnipeg Sun regarding Plan B being sold without a prescription in Manitoba. The first one talks about the reluctance of some pharmacists to dispense the product. There is mention that some pharmacists are not properly trained to dispense the product...more. The article suggests this might be a convienient excuse for pharmacists to not dispense the product.

The next article talks about a Manitoba obudsman's report. The report questions the information gathering protocols prior to dispensing Plan B...more

Wealthy Alberta lags in access to cancer drugs

From the Saskatoon Star Phoenix:
Despite the province's prosperity, cancer patients in Alberta have only "modest access" to new cancer drugs compared to people in other parts of Canada, according to a study by a national cancer watchdog group.

The Cancer Advocacy Coalition also says provincial differences in access to life-enhancing drugs could be contrary to the spirit of the Canada Health Act, and calls for a national strategy to improve access for cancer patients across Canada. ...more

Morning-after pill may head over the counter

From the Georgia Strait (BC):
Thirty years ago, Caryn Duncan remembers, you couldn’t buy condoms without first talking to a pharmacist. Ditto yeast-infection cream. That was ridiculous, she said. Now, just as outrageous, Duncan added, the morning-after pill is still stuck behind the counter, with a prying pharmacist sometimes blocking access to the drug.

“Women are smart enough to figure out when and how to take it,” the Vancouver Women’s Health Collective member told the Georgia Straight. “Why can’t we just walk into a store and buy it?” ...more

Combining antipsychotic drugs has no benefit for severe schizophrenia: study

From Canada.com:
Prescribing more than one antipsychotic drug in an effort to help hard-to-treat schizophrenia appears to have no benefit and should be dropped from psychiatric practice, a Canadian-led international study concludes.

Up to one-third of schizophrenics continue to have disturbing symptoms such as auditory hallucinations even when receiving treatment, said Dr. William Honer of the University of British Columbia's department of psychiatry. The treatment of choice for such patients is usually the drug clozapine. ...more

Most ignore drug labels

From the London Free Press:
Every container of over-the-counter pain relief comes with warnings and instructions, but 60 per cent of Canadians never take the time to read them, a new survey suggests.

The Ipsos Reid survey, released yesterday, suggests as many as 10 million Canadians are at risk for serious side effects because they ignore the labels when taking aspirin, ibuprofen or acetaminophen, misuse the medication or combine it with other drugs. ...more

Victims fight government, too

From the Ottawa Sun:
Doug Emerson says his father would be alive today if the cancer drugs available in other provinces were approved for use in Ontario.

His beliefs are backed by a new study by the Cancer Advocacy Group of Canada which says cancer patients in western Canada are more likely to survive than patients in the east because not as many drugs are approved for use in provinces like Ontario.

In B.C., 21 cancer drugs have been approved compared to only six in Ontario, said the study which was released yesterday. ...more

Can someone remind me why they call Canada's health system "universal health care" with equal access?